Secession: Are We Free to Go?

Is all the recent talk of secession mere sour grapes over the election, or perhaps something deeper? Currently there are active petitions in support of secession for all 50 states, with Texas taking the lead in number of signatures. Texas has well over the number of signatures needed to generate a response from the administration, and while I wouldn’t hold my breath on Texas actually seceding, I believe these petitions raise a lot of worthwhile questions about the nature of our union.

Is it treasonous to want to secede from the United States? Many think the question of secession was settled by our Civil War. On the contrary; the principles of self-governance and voluntary association are at the core of our founding. Clearly Thomas Jefferson believed secession was proper, albeit as a last resort. Writing to William Giles in 1825, he concluded that states:

“should separate from our companions only when the sole alternatives left, are the dissolution of our Union with them, or submission to a government without limitation of powers.”

Keep in mind that the first and third paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence expressly contemplate the dissolution of a political union when the underlying government becomes tyrannical.

Do we have a “government without limitation of powers” yet? The Federal government kept the Union together through violence and force in the Civil War, but did might really make right?

Secession is a deeply American principle. This country was born through secession. Some felt it was treasonous to secede from England, but those “traitors” became our country’s greatest patriots.

There is nothing treasonous or unpatriotic about wanting a federal government that is more responsive to the people it represents. That is what our Revolutionary War was all about and today our own federal government is vastly overstepping its constitutional bounds with no signs of reform. In fact, the recent election only further entrenched the status quo. If the possibility of secession is completely off the table there is nothing to stop the federal government from continuing to encroach on our liberties and no recourse for those who are sick and tired of it.

Consider the ballot measures that passed in Colorado and Washington state regarding marijuana laws. The people in those states have clearly indicated that they are ready to try something different where drug policy is concerned, yet they will still face a tremendous threat from the federal government. In California, the Feds have been arresting peaceful medical marijuana users and raiding dispensaries that state and local governments have sanctioned. This shouldn’t happen in a free country.

It remains to be seen what will happen in states that are refusing to comply with the deeply unpopular mandates of Obamacare by not setting up healthcare exchanges. It appears the Federal government will not respect those decisions either.

In a free country, governments derive their power from the consent of the governed. When the people have very clearly withdrawn their consent for a law, the discussion should be over. If the Feds refuse to accept that and continue to run roughshod over the people, at what point do we acknowledge that that is not freedom anymore? At what point should the people dissolve the political bands which have connected them with an increasingly tyrannical and oppressive federal government? And if people or states are not free to leave the United States as a last resort, can they really think of themselves as free?

If a people cannot secede from an oppressive government, they cannot truly be considered free.

I actually want people to do what they want, as long as they dont impose upon others. Trust me I dont think im better than you or anyone else, im actually A-moral, but I do think im smarter than everyone else lol its my ego pumping me up.

thank you for your service. i want to think of something to say that will keep you in the fight, but i know you have to be getting tired. in your retirement, you will have rest. you deserve rest. given that your continuance in fighting will continue to motivate generations like mine, and even the previous, i will do my part in spreading your message. many others will also spread it like wildfire. thanks to you, we will all know truth. we love you.

I know you are, but what am I? I know you are, but what am I?
How droll.
“You think you’re better than everyone else, but you’re not.”
Looking in the mirror?

Like or Dislike:00

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DooUC DooUC

Thank you for your expert opinion. Why not take a leaf out of your own state’s rights playbook and leave the country if it’s such a terrible place? Quit being a victim and waiting for someone like Ron Paul to save you from the nasty feds and go and make the life you want, instead of agitating for the destruction of the country. Just a thought.

You are under the mistaken impression that the majority of Americans share you’re viewpoint and are perfectly happy with it. How many of RP’s policies are in effect currently in Somalia, and what are they?

Like or Dislike:00

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DannyIgnite DannyIgnite

1:54 “There is nothing treasonous and unpatriotic about wanting a Federal Government that is more responsive to the People it represents. That is what our Revolutionary War was all about, and today our own Federal Government is vastly overstepping its Constitutional bounds with no signs of reform.” – Ron Paul
2:18 “If the possibility of Secession is completely off the table, there is NOTHING to stop the Federal Government from continuing to encroach on our Liberties.” – Ron Paul

There isn’t a President since Carter who hasn’t comitted treasonous acts, so treason against treason cancels out. There isn’t anything close to civil war being described here. Do you not know the first and third paragraphs of our Constitution say? Read them and get back to me. When people born here are not adhering to the requirements of the job entrusted to them of following the Constitution in our government, then it is not American against American, but Americans against foreign influences.

Like or Dislike:00

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DooUC DooUC

That will literally be your fate if you don’t mend your treasonous ways. Just sayin’.

Like or Dislike:00

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DooUC DooUC

Like anyone who wants to impose their own tyranny on the majority, you dress it up as freedom and fighting oppression. You think you’re better than everyone else, but you’re not.

Like or Dislike:00

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=SocietalSlave SocietalSlave

Were the ones who advocate for state rights, your the one advocating that states should be forced to accept whatever tyranny, un-fair taxes, slavery or whatever at the hands of a big powerful federal government, by Not having the right to secede from such oppression. Do you not know what you are arguing for??? Limitation of power is achieved by threat of succession. (not solely of course)

Like or Dislike:10

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=SocietalSlave SocietalSlave

Were the ones who advocate for state rights, your the one advocating that states should be forced to accept whatever tyranny, un-fair taxes, slavery or whatever at the hands of a big powerful federal government, by Not having the right to secede from such oppression. Do you not know what you are arguing for??? Limitation of power is achieved by threat of succession. (not solely of course)

you’re an idiot. Libertarians are generally for states rights. It’s the lack of states rights, and more importantly lack of individual rights that we all should be afraid of. If you are perfectly happy you must be feasting off the teets of US tax payers. How many checks do you get from the government each month? Lazy entitled slobs like yourself should probably not talk or vote. Thank you.

Like or Dislike:11

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=perryjeselink perryjeselink

Sic semper tyrannis!

Like or Dislike:00

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DooUC DooUC

If you don’t like it here, then move away. Isn’t that what you libertarians tell anyone who’s afraid of state’s rights? So just leave the country to those of us (the majority) who are perfectly happy with it as it is. Go live in Somalia. You’ll find a lot of Ron Paul’s policies in operation there, with predictable results.

Like or Dislike:01

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DooUC DooUC

If you don’t like it here, then move away. Isn’t that what you libertarians tell anyone who’s afraid of state’s rights? So just leave the country to those of us (the majority) who are perfectly happy with it as it is. Go live in Somalia. You’ll find a lot of Ron Paul’s policies in operation there, with predictable results.

Like or Dislike:00

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DooUC DooUC

The Brits were a far away govt and we had no representation. It’s totally different. What’s being called for in these comments is civil war. American against American, not Americans against foreigners. The deaths of hundreds of thousands of our citizens and the break up of the country. That’s treason.

Like or Dislike:00

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DooUC DooUC

The Brits were a far away govt and we had no representation. It’s totally different. What’s being called for in these comments is civil war. American against American, not Americans against foreigners. The deaths of hundreds of thousands of our citizens and the break up of the country. That’s treason.

Like or Dislike:00

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=SocietalSlave SocietalSlave

Don’t be too quick to place all blame on corporations, remember they are the ones who create jobs, further technology, and support this economy.

Really the blame needs to lie with our two party rule system we’ve got going on. The only thing that separates dictatorships from Republics and Democracies is multiple parties and politics. We’ve only got two party’s, one away from a dictatorship and with how well they play the politics game in Washington, it might as well already be a dictatorship.

11:52 am: "Yes I know brother that he ran as a republican, it is sad enought that he not can run as an LIBERTARIAN. I truly hope he’s gonna run again. We can only support him..." - knowitall

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